Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerColin White has played for the Devils since 2000, his whole career.

Colin White played 11 seasons for the Devils and was an important part of two Stanley Cup championships. As such, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello admitted today that parting ways with the veteran defenseman was a difficult thing to do.

But Lamoriello nevertheless placed White on waivers, along with newly acquired forward Trent Hunter, and Lamoriello said if the two players clear waivers, the team will buy out the remainder of their contracts.

“This is a hockey and business decision,” Lamoriello said of the moves. “Absolutely, this is most difficult. I’ve had Colin since he was 17. We’ve had a friendship. But you have to be able to separate that from the business side.”

The moves will save the Devils significant money under the salary cap this season. White was under contract for one more season at $3 million, and Hunter — who was acquired Thursday from the New York Islanders for Brian Rolston — was due $2 million for each of the next two seasons.

If the players are not claimed by another team by noon today, the Devils can buy them out for two-thirds of what they are owed. White’s buyout would cost $2 million, and the cap hit would be $1 million for each of the next two seasons; Hunter would be bought out for $2.67 million, with his cap hit being worth $666,667 for each of the next four seasons. Both players would become unrestricted free agents. If either player is claimed by another team, then his entire salary would come off the Devils’ salary cap.

By exchanging Rolston ($5 million this season) for Hunter, and then buying White and Hunter out, the Devils — who on Friday avoided arbitration with Zach Parise by agreeing to a one-year, $6 million deal with him — will have freed up $6.33 million in cap space this season.

White, 33, ends his Devils career with 743 games played, 20 goals, 105 assists and 848 penalty minutes. Originally a second-round pick (No. 49 overall) in 1996, the 6-4, 215-pound defenseman was a tough, physical presence on the back line for most of his career, and was a member of the team’s 2000 and 2003 Stanley Cup championship teams.

White never was quite the same player after he suffered an eye injury during training camp of 2007, when he was hit by a puck in practice.

He missed the first 20 games of that season, and after his return he did not have a fight for more than two seasons, before mixing it up with Toronto’s Dion Phaneuf in February 2010.

Lamoriello said he spoke to White after the end of last season to let him know this was possible.

“This was not a surprise,” Lamoriello said. “This is no different than (parting ways with) Bruce Driver, or John MacLean, or any other of our long-time players in the past.”

Lamoriello said White told him he still intends to play.

Hunter, who is coming off knee surgery in February, said while he is disappointed he never got a chance to play for the Devils, he will continue to work out this summer and get ready to play for someone this season.

“It’s been one of the crazier weeks in my life, that’s for sure. But it’s part of the business,” Hunter said.